The Council on Law Enforcements on Thursday presented several of its investigation reports to the Philipsburg Jubilee Library. The reports were presented by the council’s secretary-general Marianne Steenbergen to Monique Albers, director of Philipsburg Jubilee Library.
The reports are the results of the Council’s inspections conducted in Sint Maarten in 2011, 2012 and 2013 addressing various matters related to the functioning of the judicial chain.
Investigations have been conducted, among others, into procedures followed when a crime is reported. The council’s inspection had focused on procedures followed by the police force in the event that a complaint is filed.
Another report addressed the assistance granted to victims of crime (slachtofferhulp), with the council researching the methods employed within the criminal justice system in St. Maarten for helping the victims of crime.
A report on juvenile rehabilitation in Sint Maarten assessed the method employed in St. Maarten in relation to the three responsibilities of the juvenile probation service. These are providing information and advice, mandatory support and co-ordination of community service orders.
The fourth inspection report produced by the Council on Law Enforcement was one regarding how the investigation procedure of the detective department is carried out, once a crime is reported.
In a report on adult probation in Sint Maarten, the Council on Law Enforcement detailed in which way probation tasks are executed by the probation department of the Foundation for Judicial Institutions Windward Islands in Sint Maarten. Those tasks are information and advice, supervision by the probation service, tasks within the prison and coordination of the execution of community sanctions and measures.
A separate investigative report dealing with St. Maarten’s detention capacity, in Sint Maarten looked into whether or the detention capacity in Sint Maarten meets present needs.
The report on the education of Police in Sint Maarten addressed the extent of and in which way police education is implemented in Sint Maarten.
The council carried out an inspection of border control and the movement of persons at St. Maarten’s Princess Juliana International airport, the harbor and beaches, in 2013.
The ultimate objective of the Council on Law Enforcement is to provide recommendations to the Ministers of Justice of the three countries of the Dutch Kingdom to correct shortcomings. With the presentation of the reports to the Library, the Council hopes to inform the general public about the work of the Council. The council endeavors to share its findings about organizations within the justice system, in addition to these serving as guidelines aimed at improving the workings of those organizations as well as procedures within the judicial chain in Sint Maarten, in general.
In accepting the reports, Monique Albers, director of the Library, expressed the library’s gratitude and indicated that the reports will be on display at the library.
About the Council
The Council on Law Enforcement was established by Kingdom Act in 2011. It is an inter-insular independent body of Sint Maarten, Curaçao and the BES-islands, responsible for the inspection of the various organizations within the justice system. The Council consists of three members who are appointed by Royal Decree and who represent the three countries. The Council has a secretariat with offices in Sint Maarten, Curaçao and Bonaire. The Council’s reports are available for downloading at www.raadrechtshandhaving.com.
For further information on the Council for Law Enforcement, visit the website:
www.raadrechtshandhaving.com